Upgrading my TT...running journal (Updated!)

[Ace2cool]

Wow, suddenly leaps and bounds here. Threads like this are exciting!

And Anton, good looking out on those injectors. I've been considering them too.

[NolimitZ32]

They are great, they run perfectly in my car and they are cheap as chips compared to any of the nismo units. Only problem for me is that I'll soon have reached their limit. I technically already have but I am scared of my car (or should I say was before the tree and the new shell), so I keep it at WG boost (1 bar) on the HKS2530s and run the yellows, keeps me from trying to get too boost-happy and save up for some 740s in the meantime. While my engine is out I did repaint everything so bye bye burnt copper orange, hello stealth black, only thing that will remain not black under my hood will be the polished intake mani and the tb hardpipes, really liking the almost stock but slightly more sinister look.

[DCaff300ZX]

Good news with the injectors, Doug will be interested to hear you run the setup I'm sure.
I'll be at a much lower level always so I think this sounds like my solution and allows me to replace them all and not break the bank, PLUS tuneability.

I got the TB covers painted today and the cam covers cleaned and primed, hoping to get final paint coats on tomorrow and c.coat/final by Monday dropoff.
I'll get pics when they hit their final stages, looking good so far...I ALMOST left them the aluminum color they came out so clean, but stayed with the plan...

[Ace2cool]

Yeah, I'm not sure I'll be building mine to max 520's anytime in the near future. Haha.

[DCaff300ZX]

but I am scared of my car (or should I say was before the tree and the new shell), so I keep it at WG boost (1 bar) on the HKS2530s and run the yellows, keeps me from trying to get too boost-happy and save up for some 740s in the meantime.

I hear this, after hearing about the TB and other issues I had I realized that a healthy dose of caution and a re-learning curve are coming my way with my Z. It will be a whole different animal especially with throttle response Doug claims and I can't see why not.

[DCaff300ZX]

UPDATE-
Some pics of the timing covers and cam covers








Can't wait to see 'em on the engine!

[DCaff300ZX]

Doug wants to use the Hpex Power FC via an RB25 ECU.

Correction here as I re-read Doug's notes and deciphered his writing...

We will use the ApexiPower FC with commander, all through a RB25 ECU.
I'm sure some were scratching their head saying "Whhaaaaaaat?"

I also looked around for E85 and it seems my best bet may be to try and get on McChord AFB (JBLM in today's parlance) since my Dad was Air Force and see if I can get it there or maybe down a little to Fort Lewis, otherwise it's about 40 miles away in Olympia or similar distance to Snoqualmie seems my only choices. The E85 map for the country is thick everywhere but out West I see...

[Ace2cool]

Yeah, every other station here has E85.

[DCaff300ZX]

UPDATE-
I went to deliver the cam and Tbelt covers to Doug at Fairlady today, and paid for the work to date. I paid for the ApexiFC which Doug got for $1000 saving me $250, and he had found some Nismo 700cc injectors for me from the RB25 in the GTR also being worked with mine, and I assume I get his ECU too as the total cost for injectors and ECU and boost controller was $1165. Best of all boost will be handled through the commander and ApexiFC. The costs to date included the exhaust porting he did for $100 less than he quoted me as well as all of the engine gaskets and seals, the engine pull and turbos installed. The costs are actually staying WELL under control so far as at the halfway point+ I have spent about 2 grand less than expected...makes me VERY happy, and easily allows for the extra work necessary.
BTW, the new intake/ECU setup will be MAP based so my Selin dual intake will be for sale when the work is done.

So today the engine was getting it's last gaskets and such that came in, so it and the GTR are expected to be running end of week...mine probably later due to when the ApexiFC actually arrives, and that the GTR is ahead of my pace- engine in and externals going on. The owner of the GTR was in at the time as well, and we all had fun talking Nissan goodness.
More to come, and still looking like soon rather than later!

[DCaff300ZX]

UPDATE-
Was by Fairlady Motors paying the ledger to date, and got some pics!

Front view with 120K done- Gates racing tbelt and RameyZ studs, OEM rest



Top waiting for the 700cc Denso injectors and adapters and connectors. Anyone else appreciate Eric's attention to detail: no RTV oozing everywhere and everything neatly in place or ready to be so



This damn side shot refuses to orient correctly, my apologies but worth the time to rotate and view



The list of EVERYTHING done to my engine and car to date



Everything's on schedule for engine in next Tuesday/Wednesday, buttoned up and ready for dyno tune by next weekend.
On the build end, E85 is off the table for numerous reasons- mostly availability, but also fuel economy on E85 (larger injectors/more aggressive tune) drove that decision.
Also the R32 also being worked on nears completion and is an impressive machine in a mechanical and reality way (not show car, but VERY nice real world car), but I can't share pics of it as the owners' rights could be affected which I understand and appreciate...but here's a few pics I can share.
A really clean old lady hanging around...the R32 is this clean and neat, black with nice minor body mods and custom wheels and a well-built RB26.



And The Man Doug showing off his latest passion and direction, electric motorcycles. This thing was AWESOME on the dyno, incredible throttle response...Doug's a really interesting guy with a serious passion for motorsports, he and Eric both



...more to come as things progress to finish!

[Z-owned]

Well? Is it in and Dyno'd yet? I assume with the Pfc being used it's going to require a fair bit of custom tuning as it's not a typical setup for the car.

[DCaff300ZX]

Got a call today from Doug to bring him the Y-pipe for the intake as we will be going back to single entry so Buh-Bye to my boost tester tool.
Everything is on schedule- engine in and all other work done, waiting for the Y-pipe to tune the engine.
And yes, there will be custom tuning which is Doug's specialty. When last we talked it was looking like Friday or this weekend, I'll find out more today when I drop off the Y-pipe.
Getting excited!!!

[DCaff300ZX]

UPDATE-
Well, she breathes again!
The motor is in and all work done save the AFC and intake (took him the old y-pipe today), and she runs even with no tuning! Roughly of course with the larger injectors and no tune for current standards, but enough for them to have tested the clutch setup with the upgrade Exedy organic disk coupled with the 450 torque pplate from the 6-puck setup I bought and got a thumbs up- felt good and clamped hard with good pedal feel. Shifter rebuild is also done, and best of all regarding exhaust Doug feels we may be OK with the 60mm OEM exhaust piping and just an upgrade to the mufflers and larger tip openings to make good enough power, and not have to replace the entire exhaust now...or maybe even ever considering the system is perfect other than the mufflers which one has begun to flake, and the use the car will get from here on out- car shows and cruises with Chris and anyone else who comes along summers, and in the garage for winters.
Anyway, on to the pics!!!


The timing covers got a thumbs up installed, as there was previous doubt of how they would look...but I already knew!


Eric Sone's attention to detail meets my ridiculous standards easily- he tucked the wiring as standard practice and the connections are top notch and perfectly installed.



Once I touch up the radiator shroud and ps reservoir and a few other items the bay will be right where I want it.

Here's how she sits with the coilovers set, haven't gotten shots of that yet.
The good side...


...aaaand the bad side. Yes, the body is last...function over form.


Yes, no hood...an interesting story involving a wind storm recently and more of my luck. However, the silver lining is a fellow who happened to be there at the time and is an EXPERT body guy took it home and repaired it perfectly apparently, and it's in getting restored to previous perfection. The gentleman Charlie also happened to show up just as I did so I got to meet him and talk to him about my body issues, and get some great advise and further support for using Darnell's for the work. This will be the plan as I was also more than happy with Darnell's work painting my bumper, hood, and fenders previously, and he does all of Doug's paint work.
The plan is for tuning tomorrow if the AFC arrives as scheduled, and I may be getting her back as soon as next week...probably Friday or the weekend as weekdays are out for me.
Very, VERY close and exceeding my expectations for the 2nd time in my life...and holy CRAP, too bad you all can't see that GTR...

[Ace2cool]

Dude, that's awesome. Compared to yours, my build thread would put everyone to sleep. An update like every three months lol.

[DCaff300ZX]

Thanks Ace, much appreciated!
Honestly though, that's why I decided to turn this over to Doug- it's all omplicated and troublesome at best to do upgrades that actually work AND last, and to get done what I wanted is best done at one time. If it was me I'd be FAR behind the pace you mentioned, it took me almost 6 months to just accumulate parts and some estimates which at the time were out of budget range.
I'm excited for tomorrow...if the AFC arrives it COULD be driveable when I get there with some cash...

[Zeke21]

Saw you car at Dougs the other day...motor was out. Looks like it is coming along and as always Doug knows his stuff.

I'm down to cruise with you this summer!

[DCaff300ZX]

Hey, awesome!
Nice to know there's another local here on NICO, we'll def have to hook up for a cruise with Chris and I and anyone else this coming year.

Was that your red '96 I saw? Solid car if so!

[Zeke21]

Hey, awesome!
Nice to know there's another local here on NICO, we'll def have to hook up for a cruise with Chris and I and anyone else this coming year.

Was that your red '96 I saw? Solid car if so!

No, mine is white.

Yes, lets plan a drive!

[DCaff300ZX]

Doh, just saw your sig shot...

Well, just waiting on Ebay as everything else was sourced local/reputable and is installed, freak show ApexiFC ebay seller not so much.
EXACTLY why I have never, and will never even consider ebay for anything but a good laugh....

[DCaff300ZX]

UPDATE-
OK so officially we wait for next week as the AFC is a no-show, and holding up the show. All else is done and hood back repaired amazingly, and apparently Charlie is ready to do my work and waiting to hear from me. Doug and I are gonna get some work done before he moves on to other more lucrative work, gotta catch the Masters before they disappear. I am excited as I truly think the Z will be better than OEM when done...I truly could not tell my hood had been hoodwinked.
Doug's schedule has him free for me mid-week on, so when that AFC shows I will be 95% done with mechanical and counting down...more then!

[MotoCARR]

Was installing the oil cooler a pretty straight forward process?

[DCaff300ZX]

Not bad at all, I did however add a little bit to it by "isolating" the cooler on washers as spacers and some ss fasteners instead of the stuff that will rust that came with the cooler.
BTW mine is in the stock configuration, not the full flow setup with the oil tree fitting so it was plug and play.

[DCaff300ZX]

SMALL UPDATE-
I got a call from Doug last night with an explanation for the PowerFC- seems there is a Union strike on the docks in San Diego, and you can guess where it is...so he's looking to get the supplier to express us one to get me moving.
Just more of the expected hangups life produces these days far too commonly, I will get the car back soon enough for a Happy Reunion of my foot and her pedals...

[DCaff300ZX]

OK, so I got the call I've been waiting for as the AFC is in today, and my baby WILL be done and ready Friday because Doug's going on vacation. LOVE that kind of motivation!
More when I get her...

[Ziggy1621]

Vroom Vroom

[Ace2cool]

Dock strikes finally over? Hahahaha Awesome news man!

[DCaff300ZX]

Geez, is it only Wednesday????
Not sure the way it got resolved, and like the owner at work suggested I really didn't care. I knew the clock was ticking on Doug and Eric's vacations so it was awesome I JUST dodged that bullet.
Now it's just like I'm 6 years old, 3 days before Christmas...

[Z-owned]

We got some nice boosting weather right now to! I am interested in the numbers it makes.

[DCaff300ZX]

It's done!
No info yet as it was a message saying only that, I will be getting it tomorrow after a short work day as I was too busy to race over there after a crappy 2 hour+ commute tonight. I want to ask Eric a LOT of questions and be in the right frame of mind to absorb the answers.

[DCaff300ZX]

UPDATE-
So I picked her up today, what a change!
First and most obviously they decided to go with new mufflers (my pref since one of the OEM's was flaking) with my new tips, and man- she's not stock sounding anymore! Sounds like Chris' Z, a deeper but a little crusty rumble now and a SOLID idle pull. Clutch engages stock-like but firm, only the second time I've driven away with a new clutch and it acted like the old one but better, not lurchy-sticky and such for 10 miles like every other one I've gotten done at other places. Oh, both times were Doug's work.
The turbos pull almost immediately and they got me on the first takeoff, tire spin just starting out with a little too much throttle and she was singing good so I had to let off and coast it out a second...smiling like an idiot. Now I know what you guys mean about 1st gear...gonna be short stays there for sure!
However, I noticed that there was something a little loose in the right front so I get to see Kimball's again about that fearing the FUCA may be loose as was always a problem in the NA, requiring loctite...but the new collars should have alleviated that so I'll have to do some hunting tomorrow.
Also, the idle was a touch unsteady and there was some hesitation off the top of the throttle, so Doug will also get a revisit to work those items out- not unexpected as I was asked to keep a log of ANYTHING and circumstances so Doug could fine tune if necessary...and it is.
Overall I was thrilled to get back in her and take a real drive, even if just back to the garage and parked again until whatever comes next.
Unfortunately the power steering needed some attention as well as a few other small things, but the grand total of all the work broke my bank so body is on hold for fundage, and anything else like the needed brake attention and new rear tires are also on hold pending riches flowing from my bank account. Work says we will be slammed soon, looks like it may be until this summer before more action, other than small things like the front end work I intend to do and the adjustments by Doug and potentially Kimball's.
More as that happens!